Cordivex

In the depths of the Dawnwood, on Gorus, the wood elves possess a sacred garment worn only by warriors.
  This revered item, known as the Cordivex, is meticulously handcrafted from the woven wool of the elusive Ebonsheep—its fibers spun into fine threads and dyed in ceremonial hues.   The Cordivex is a bandolier, but more than mere attire: each one is unique, bearing intricate patterns woven and embroidered into the fabric by hand. They are lovingly crafted by women—often lovers—and gifted to warriors as they prepare for battle or enter the arena of tournaments.   To wear a Cordivex is to carry a visible thread of devotion. The symbols and motifs stitched into its pockets are chosen with care, meant to reflect the spirit, strengths, and hopes of the warrior it adorns. No two are ever alike. Each Cordivex is worn with pride, not just as a token of affection, but as a testament to love's courage, woven into war.   Each Cordivex is more than cloth—it is a tapestry of meaning.
Commonly woven symbols include motifs from the natural world: the leaves and branches of the Dawnwood, rays of the sun, flight-bound birds, and signs of eternity. Yet many bear the marks of the gods themselves, each thread a prayer, each pattern a vow.   Among the most revered symbols are those of the Warrior Goddess Hyrara—a lion and arrow, representing courage and swiftness in battle. The Goddess of Love, Vespera, is honored with hearts and blooming flowers, stitched in gentle curves meant to shield as much as soften. And for those who seek strength in toil and protection through craft, the God of the Forge, Tulo, is invoked with the hammer and anvil.   Some Cordivexes, fewer but no less sacred, carry the mark of Nelous, the God of Death. These are embroidered with shooting stars, reminding the wearer that the fallen are never truly gone—that memory, like starlight, endure


  A Cordivex is given on the eve of battle, or just before the tournament gates are opened. It is a sacred exchange—a gesture as intimate and binding as any vow. A warrior may only receive one Cordivex in their lifetime, for to bestow one is no casual favor, but a solemn promise: that the love it carries will be borne into battle alongside blade and breath.   To give a Cordivex is to say, I see you, I choose you, and I send my heart with you into danger. Among the wood elves, it is considered the closest act to a marriage or formal courting bond, without undergoing the full rite of commitment.   If a warrior falls in battle, the Cordivex is either returned to the one who crafted it, or burned with the body, woven threads becoming ash alongside the life it adorned. The choice is left to the maiden’s grief, and her love.   When receiving a Cordivex, a warrior does not speak. They simply bow their head in reverence as the maiden fastens the bandolier across their chest—tying it over the heart. Often, she will offer a few quiet words: a blessing, a memory, or a whispered vow, carried only by the wind and the warrior who walks away bearing it.
Each Cordivex is constructed from the wool of the elusive Ebonsheep—its dark fibers carefully spun, hand-dyed, and woven with intention. The process is slow, almost reverent, and often passed down through generations. Some weaving patterns are considered sacred, guarded within families like heirloom prayers.   The bandolier traditionally bears seven pockets, each one embroidered with symbols and motifs specific to the warrior who will wear it—representing strength, memory, virtue, or divine favor. These pockets are meant to carry small daggers or charms, though some also hold dried herbs, feathers, or stones blessed by the gods.   A hidden eighth pocket is often stitched beneath the lining—a secret space where a lover tucks a note, lock of hair, or folded blessing meant for the warrior alone.   In some Cordivexes, pieces of antler or bone from great beasts slain in ritual hunts are sewn into the lining, invoking the strength and spirit of the creature in battle. These embellishments turn the garment into a kind of living talisman, both armor and memory.   It is considered a grave taboo to weep while stitching a Cordivex—to let grief or fear stain the thread. Among the wood elves, it is believed that tears sewn into the wool are a death sentence, marking the warrior for sorrow before the battle has even begun.